AFBI ready to play a key role in EU PIG project

AFBIs pig research scientists, Dr Elizabeth Magowan and Dr Ramon Muns, will represent AFBI in EU-PIG over the next four years.

Published:07:45Sunday 13 November 2016

Expertise within the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) in the areas of pig welfare and precision production has been recognised through AFBI’s inclusion in a new pan-European project – EU PIG.

This four-year €2m project will collate and disseminate information in the areas of health management, precision production, animal welfare and meat quality.

Dr Elizabeth Magowan, the AFBI lead said: “AFBI’s involvement in this project demonstrates how important the research conducted in AFBI is at a wider European level. Our participation in this project will also bring state of the art knowledge in all of these areas back to Northern Ireland pig producers. As such we are delighted to be part of the consortium.”

EU PIG, led by AHDB Pork, is a consortium of 19 organisations from 13 Member States which together account for 92% of the EU’s pig meat production and 89% of the EU’s pig herd. The consortium consists of, or will have links to, national and regional pig producer groups, researchers, rural development boards and innovation practitioners, including a number of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs).

EU PIG is a new concept which aims to improve the connection between producers and the latest science, husbandry techniques and technologies from within the industry via fellow producers, academics and advisors connected through the creation of thematic and regional platforms. It is funded by the European Commission’s research and development programme, ‘Horizon 2020’.

The next four years will see new management tools created and practical guidance available for all parts of the industry. Innovative best practice, combined with scientific knowledge, will be identified and shared via a comprehensive website explaining in detail the project objectives and how to get involved.